NEW DELHI — Lockheed Martin could re-enter India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) competition with its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, if nascent congressional action in Washington is any indication. Two months ago, the Indian government shut U.S. companies out of the $11 billion program, rejecting Lockheed Martin’s offer of the F-16IN Super Viper and Boeing’s bid of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

GIVING SHELTER: The Indian army has received integrated, thermally regulated shelters to protect soldiers against the extreme climatic conditions of the Himalayan region. The shelters, designed and developed by the country’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), are equipped with integrated temperature regulators, biodigestors and air-monitoring systems, says V.K. Saraswat, scientific adviser to the defense minister. The shelters have been designed to withstand earthquakes, winds up to 120 mph and temperatures down to -35C.

NEW DELHI — India is well on its way to creating a minimum credible nuclear deterrent, a senior defense official says. “There is a huge amount of work going on toward creating a credible minimal deterrence to ensure our adversaries don’t take us by surprise. We are way up and ahead of what we need to do in protecting the country,” says Air Vice Marshal K.J. Mathews, commander-in-chief of Strategic Forces Command.